Britain remains undecided as to whether it will join US and Arab coalition airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) targets within Syria. Meanwhile, consensus is growing among UK MPs in support of Iraq strikes.

America, along with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United
Arab Emirates, used fighter jets, bombers and Tomahawk cruise
missiles in Syrian raids that began early on Tuesday.

Monitors claim 120 jihadists were killed in the strikes. At least
eight victims are believed to be civilians, three of them
children, the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters.

Syria’s United Nations envoy was informed by Washington hours
before the attacks began at about 00:30 GMT. The permission of
the Assad government, however, was not sought, raising questions
over the legality of the intervention.

Syrian state TV reports President Assad supports any
international effort against “terror” and that an Iraqi envoy is
now briefing him on next steps to combat terrorism, according to
Reuters.

Asked about the UK’s stance on joining Syrian strikes, a UK
Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said, “Our position in Iraq
and Syria is the same. Discussions are ongoing. No decision has
been taken to our involvement.”

Downing Street says Prime Minister David Cameron supports the
strikes, and wishes to determine "what more the UK can do to
contribute" as he enters talks at the UN General Assembly in New
York.

Cameron has said he wants to consult the House of Commons before
committing British forces to Iraq or Syria. Parliament could be
recalled as early as Thursday, following his return from the
assembly.

He hopes to secure UN approval for a global strategy to deal with
the militant group. He also plans to meet the president of Iran
to urge him to join the effort.

In a major embarrassment for Cameron, a government motion for a
Syrian intervention last year was defeated by Labour opposition
MPs. Cameron will need the support of his opponents in order to
act.

Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna told Sky News on Tuesday
it was “inconceivable” that Cameron could commit to
airstrikes without the approval of MPs.

“ISIS need to be eliminated. What they are doing in the
region is evil, is terrible. Obviously the prime minister hasn't
determined yet that the UK should get involved,” said
Umunna.

“If that is something he does, the Labour Party will apply
the same criteria to whether or not we choose to support the
intervention as we applied to the proposed Syrian action last
year - is there a legal basis to intervene, is there a plan for
intervention, and, importantly as well, learning the lessons from
Iraq, is there a plan for what happens after?

“It is inconceivable that the prime minister could press on
with airstrikes frankly without consulting Parliament and seeking
proper consultation with Parliament.”

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday
he was not against the principle of British involvement in
military action, but said operations in Syria required “some
kind of consent” from the Syrian government.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement as news broke of
Syrian strikes, which said that any action against Islamic State
militants in the country without the agreement of the Syrian
government would fuel tensions in the region.

“Any such action can be carried out only in accordance with
international law,” read the statement. “That implies
not a formal, one-sided ‘notification’ of airstrikes but the
presence of explicit consent from the government of Syria or the
approval of a corresponding UN Security Council decision.”

Attempts to violate the sovereignty of countries in the Middle
East to achieve Washington’s own geopolitical goals “only
exacerbates tensions and further destabilizes the
situation,” the ministry added.

The UK government has hardened its rhetoric on the IS in recent
weeks, since the release of three gruesome videos showing the
beheadings of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and
British aid worker David Haines.

The IS has threatened to execute a fourth hostage, British aid
worker Alan Hennings, and released a propaganda video allegedly
showing captive British journalist John Cantlie. Among Tuesday’s
targets is the IS stronghold of Raqqa, where Henning is
reportedly held.

The UK government has already delivered weaponry to Kurdish
fighters resisting the Islamic State. It has also sent
humanitarian aid to minority groups targeted by IS militants, and
dispatched Typhoon jets on surveillance missions in the region.
If the government can secure the backing of MPs, airstrikes on
Iraq could begin soon after.

Based on the questionable legality of intervention in Syria,
Cameron may struggle to win approval from MPs to commit British
airpower to raids on Syria unless Damascus give its consent. He
will hold talks with Labour leader Ed Miliband this week to
discuss a possible motion.